On a road lined with restaurants, the North African styling of Ayoush manages to hold its own and catch the eye. From the shisha pipes outside to the lounging, vibrant style within, this is an Aladdin’s cave. Well, sort of.

The Venue
Ayoush certainly has a lot going on. Located on a road where eateries vie for attention, the outdoor terrace space - complete with shisha pipes - does a good job of pulling in diners, especially in the warmer months.

Inside is a small but well presented dining room built for comfort – it’s not referred to as ‘the lounge’ for nothing. Filling the long, narrow room, small tables for two and groups line the space, pushed up against a sofa that runs around the periphery. Meanwhile, cushions, cushions and more cushions make it all too easy to settle in for the night. A stone floor, flashes of orange and terracotta as well as North African artwork on the walls all lend a feeling of authenticity that is strangely comforting.

Venture downstairs, however, and it’s a different story. Is it a bar, is it a private dining area, is it a club? Who knows. The Aladdin’s cave style alcoves of large tables for parties continues the restaurant theme from upstairs but the large bar, dimmed lighting and thumping music make it feel more like a club. This isn’t a bad thing if you’re looking for a night out but if you want to cosy up for a meal then upstairs is definitely the way to go.

The Atmosphere
Upstairs in the restaurant the ambience is laid back with a hint of authenticity. The staff know what makes North African cuisine great and they’re not shy about offering recommendations and trying to get you excited about what to expect. Service is swift and food is delivered to your table quickly.

Downstairs, the atmosphere is rowdier with large groups and parties bantering loudly, enjoying the music whereas upstairs is the reserve of couples and chilled meetings between friends.

The Food
Ayoush does decent, well priced Moroccan, Tunisian and Egyptian food, covering soups, cold and hot starters, mezze, grills, seafood, sides and desserts averaging £5 to £15.

However, highly recommended are the set menus. Priced at £20 to £25 per person (for a minimum of two people), the selection includes a mixture of three cold starters and three hot starters, a salad, a main course, dessert and a cup of tea (except for the mezze, which is more geared towards sharing) – great value for money.

Highly recommended is the Moroccan set menu. Starters include: a creamy hummus with a pleasant crunchy texture and aftertaste of lemon; fresh vine leaves with a slightly too sticky rice; a delicious example of baba gannough with a nice balance of garlic and lemon; a tangy labna with cucumber; crumbly, well spiced falafel; a crisp lamb samboussek that’s a little lacking in lamb; and batata harrah cubed potatoes that could do with being better spiced and crisper. It’s an excellent way of sampling several of the starters in the most cost effective fashion.

Couscous and tagines make up the main courses alongside a rather nondescript, almost limp fatoush - a Lebanese crispy salad with lettuce, radish, mint, tomatoes and spring onions. The tagine, however, doesn’t disappoint. Chunks of juicy, slightly fatty but ultimately flavoursome lamb comes with sweet chunks of prunes and apricots in a Moroccan sauce that isn’t too spicy. An extremely filling dish, it is enough to satisfy on its own. This is followed up by a fruit platter that includes strawberries, pineapple and kiwis - a nice finish to the meal.

The Drink
A choice of red, white and rose wine accompanies a cocktail list that won’t excite but does cover the classics. However, the Casablanca beer is a nice touch – an unusual Moroccan beer that is designed to complement the food and comes in at £4 a bottle.

A strong selection of teas – including a Moroccan and Egyptian tea – is a good way to end a meal and an excellent selection of fresh fruit juices means that tee totallers finally have something to get excited about. Unusual options include banana, melon and kiwi juice for a rather pricey £5 a glass.

The Last Word
Ayoush may not be quite the magical cave of Africa it promises to be but it does a good job of appealing to a wide range of people. With decent food, shisha pipes and a large club, bar and private dining space, it’s certainly a tardis of a restaurant hiding many treasures.

View®  Card offers venue information venue map view london review user reviews (11) image gallery (6) book a table